Local, state, provincial, and national efforts to protect source water
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Wellhead Protection program goes beyond federal planning mandates and requires all communities who rely on groundwater for their public water supply to create dedicated wellhead protection plans.
The Minnesota Department of Public Health (MDH) and Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) work together to investigate and mitigate the presence of PFAS in drinking water in both private wells and sources of supply for municipal systems throughout the state.
The Minnesota Buffer Law requires landowners to establish perennial vegetation buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches in order to reduce nutrient and sediment impacts to the state’s waterways.
Watershed-based source water protection activities in Québec are overseen by the Ministry of Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change as one component of an integrated water resource management strategy.
PA VinES (Pennsylvania Vested in Environmental Sustainability) is a voluntary program that promotes self-assessment of on-farm operations in Erie County’s vineyards and provides a pathway for grape growers to access state funding that can offset the cost of installing agricultural conservation practices.
Pennsylvania’s PFAS Action Team is a multi-agency group that was established to address growing concerns about the presence of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a voluntary verification program that helps farmers reduce environmental impacts from their operations by providing technical assistance for the design and implementation of conservation plans.
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) formally brings together several state agencies to investigate and remediate contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); develop and maintain cooperative relationships among local, state, and federal agencies; understand the science, and inform and empower the public to make educated decisions.
The Huron-to-Erie Real-time Drinking Water Protection Network collects data on source water quality in real time to promote collaborative water research and community education, and as a tool to aid emergency response in the event of spills or other environmental issues.
The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Source Water Protection program facilitates the creation of watershed-based protection plans that act as the first line of defense in a multi-barrier approach to protecting drinking water.
The Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance (IANA) is a non-profit organization that brings together agriculture groups, government agencies, conservation organizations and academics working to improve soil health and nutrient management practices across the state.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Wellhead Protection Program requires all Indiana communities who rely on groundwater for their public water supply to create dedicated wellhead protection plans.
The Wisconsin Nutrient Strategy is a framework that brings together diverse nutrient management activities for point sources and nonpoint sources across the state. It documents the progress of ongoing activities implemented by federal, state, or local agencies and identifies outstanding needs.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) Source Water Assessment and Protection Program exceeds federal planning requirements to help communities create dedicated protection plans.
In June of 2015, the Lucas County Board of County Commissioners and the Toledo – Lucas County Sustainability Commission, with support from the City of Toledo, committed to implementing an assessment of sources and amounts of nutrient loading in the Western Lake Erie Basin watershed.
The city of Toledo works with LimnoTech to maintain a scientific buoy and monitoring sensors in Lake Erie near the City’s drinking water intake to assist with gathering real-time environmental data and to monitor harmful algal blooms.
The City of Toledo partners with regional government entities, nonprofits, soil and water districts, and others stakeholders to educate the public about best practices for water stewardship within the Western Lake Erie Basin and increase awareness about how personal choices can impact sources of drinking water.
The Toledo Police Department provides 24-hour unwanted prescription medication drop-off sites for all solid drugs and pills and participates in biannual Prescription Drug Take Back Days, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.
The city of Toledo participates in multiple regional partnerships and planning efforts aimed at mitigating spills that could potentially impact sources of drinking water.
The city of Toledo Division of Environmental Services operates an Emergency Response Program that responds to and investigates spills throughout the community.